Fluid-pressure regulator.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

E. P. NOYES. FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1906.

EDWARD P. NOYES, OllWINUHESTER, MASSAUHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO onliaLcs BROWN,

TRUSTEE, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLUID-PRESSURE RE GULATOR.

Original application filed November 11, 1899, Serial No. 736,588.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Divided and this application filed July 3, 1906.

satin No. 324,616.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. NOYES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vinchcster, in the county of ,lvliddlcsex and State of illassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FluidPressure Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic valvedevices for imposing a choke upon the flow of an elastic fluid. The usual pressure-rcducer governed Wholly by thepressure .on

.the terminal side, which, acting on a dia .phragm counter to a constant force such as a spring, maintains the terminal pressure constant and independent of the initial pressure.

My present invention aims to supply an automatic regulator which will cause the ter nnnal pressure to remain in a fixed relation with the initial pressure, rising when that rises, falling when that falls, and resting con stant when that rests-in other words to secure a constant choking or throttle effect upon the iluid flow, independent of the absolute pressures and independent of the volumes or quantities of fluid. flowing past the valve.

This case is a division of my copending application Ser. No. 736,588 and is intended to cover the more general characteristics and features of the regulator therein shown,

while the original application retains certain useful combinations of the regulator with an internal-combustion system.

For purposes of illustration l have here shown the regulator in the same surround ings or connections as in the original application but it will be understood that it is capable of various other uses, some of which l have hereinafter mentioned.

The mechanism illustrated herewith comprises a suitable resistance-valve in the fluidline, and a (ll'lTQlCl'ltlill motor, taking the form of a diaphragm, subject in one direction to the initial pressure and in the opposite directioi'i to the terminal pressure aided by a normally-constant force such as a spring. The constant force and the terminal pressure both tend to close the valve, while the initial pressure tends'to open it. i

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation illustrating the invention as applied to a constant-pressure internalregarded.

combustion motor system. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the regulator.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in both views.

v In the drawings, 10 indicates an engine of the steam-engine type driving an air-comc0 pressor 11 whose delivery-pipe 12 leads through my improved regulator 13 into burner 14 formingpart of a generator 15 which delivers its output to the onginelil through a pipe 16 containing a throttle-valve 17. Fuel, which may be either compressed gas or vapor, or a hydrocarbon liquid under pressure, enters the burner through a pipe 18 and the combustible mixture burns in the upper part of a comlmstion-tube 19. The products of combustion pass downwardly into and through a pool of water in a waterpot 20 at the lower end of the'generator, maintained at a predetermined level by any suitable means, and the combined steam and products of combustion passv upwardly around the combustion-tube and out through the pipe 16 to drive the engine.

21 is a hot-tube igniter to inflame the combustionlluids in starting up the burner.

The regulator 13, as here shown,comprises a suitable casing containing a pistonvalve 22 controlling ports in the path of the compressed air and connected by a stem 23 with a diaphragm 24. The chamber 25 on theupper side ofLsaid diaphragm is directly open to the incoming section of pipe 12 on the initial side of the valve, and a chamber 26 on the under side of the diaphragm connects by a pipe 27 with the interior of generator 15 on the remote side of the water pool, so that the diaphragm remains comparativcly cool. This pipe 27 carries termi nal pressure to the under side of the diaphragm, that is to say, the pressure on the remote or farther side of valve 22 which-has become reduced by the effect of choking of said valve. Some further resistance and choke is afforded by the water-pool, making the pressure in pipe 27- sub-terminal or slightly lower than in combustion-tnbe 19, but for the purposes of' the present applica tion, the further choking effect may be dis- A spring 28 attached to the-stem 23 and having a suitable adjustment 29, exerts pressureon the diaphragm in the same direction as the terminal pressure and ac- 'cordingly the initial gaseous pressure acting on the upper side of the diaphragm is coinpelled to overcome the terminal gaseous pressure and also the pressure of the spring. Hence, so long as any flow takes place, the initial pressure always exceeds the terminal pressure by an amount measured by the tension of spring 28. This tension is normally constant, but it will be understood that any extraneousregulating influence, such as an adjustment of such tension however accomplished, may be brought to bear and superimposed upon the normal action of the regulator.

The effect of my regulator is therefore to maintain a normally-constant drop in the pressure of compressed air in pipe 12, and the amount of this drop remains the same irre spcctivc of the absolute pressures and irrespective oi the rate or volume of How in the pipe containing the regulator. Such a regulator has many useful applications. Incon nection with the constantpressure internalcombustion motor system shown in the drawings, the regulator, when placed close to the burner, as shown, sustains the velocity of the fluids at the burner when only a small volume is passing, by reducing the orifice, thereby not only assisting in the mixing and rapid combustion of said 'tluids, but also tending to prevent backing up or reversal of the current from any sudden increase of terminal pressure in the combustion chamber. At such moments the increased terminal pressure acting upwardly on diaphragm 24 tends to close valve 22 and maintain the velocity ofthe smaller volume of compressed air then flowing.

From any point in pipe 12 back of the regulator 13, a pressure superior to and varying with the pressure in the generator, may be derived and applied at any useful purpose. Another useful office of the regulator in connection with constant-pressure as well as other motors or burners, is in maintaining proper relative proportions of the lluids participating in combustion. The complete mechanism for obtaining such result is not herein shown, but it will be understood that since the regulatormaintains the terminal pressure at the burner in a [ixecl relation to the initial airpressure. it provides a known terminal pressure into which fuel may be ted. and it by any suitable contrivance the fuel receives the same initial pressure as the air or a derivative of that pressure, then the two iluids are under similar control and their quantities may be maintained in a desired relationship. In my prior application referred to, the di'tl'erential diaphragm 24 is provided with a second valve which controls the compressed gaseous fuel by the same motion as the air-control.

ee Broadly considered, the regulator-oper- I ates irrespective of the initial pressure iml pressed upon it and it may operate from and -clow atmospheric pressure as well as above. The regulator may be placed in steam lines and will then have the effect of drying or superheating the steam by imposing a constant drop in pressure thereon.

Various constructive changes may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, while I have shown a balanced valve on which the pressure has no substantial motive efl'ect, it is apparent that the valve might be of some other form. It is desirable, however, to establish the relation here shown between the area of the valve and the area of the diaphragm, namely, to make the diaphragm larger in area than the valve and thus cause its controlling influence-to prevail over any pressure influences on the valve in casethe latter should be of the unbalanced t pe A mere loaded check-valve in an complish the urposes of my invention since its action wou d be spasmodic.

1 To accomplish the purposes for which this regulator is intended it is important that its response to changes in the volume of fluid flow shall be asnearly instantaneous as possible and also that the pressure difference maintained by the regulator shall be readily adjustable. Accordingly I make the motorseptum in the form of a diaphragm as described, together with the attached valve and the spring, the parts having but little inertia and the spring serving to counteract what inertia they do possess, the adjustment of the spring furnishing the means for regulating the pressure difference. This construction also enables the regulator to be used with full ellect in positions other than the vertical.

I claim A fluid-pressure regulator comprising a casing having initial-pressure and terminalpressure chambers and a valve-port connecting said chambers, a valve controlling said port, a relatively large diaphragm connected l with the valve and subject on opposite sides to the pressures of the respective chambers, a spring connected with said diaphragm and valve and acting in aid. of the terminal pressure to close the valve whereby a substantially constant ditl'crence of pressure is established by the regulator, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, the 26th day of June 1906.

EDXVARD P. NOYES.

lVitnesses:

ARTHUR H. BROWN, HELEN DARROW.

e astic-fluid pipe-line will 'not properly ac-- 

